𝑨𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒕 - ʜᴊᴘ x ᴏᴄ [𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆&𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆]

𝟏𝟕

   ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Qᴜɪᴅᴅɪᴛᴄʜ

   ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Today was the day of the Quidditch match, and Cassie was a bundle of nerves. Excited. But nervous. She sat at the Slytherin table, absentmindedly tapping her fingers against the wood as she pushed her food around her plate. Her appetite had vanished, but her energy buzzed like an overcharged spell.

"You're going to do amazing, Cas," Katherine reassured her, watching her fidget with amusement.

Cassie exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know, Kate. I'm not so sure." She pushed her plate away and stood abruptly. "Anyway, I'm going to go wish Harry good luck."

Katherine gave her a knowing look but said nothing as Cassie made her way across the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table. Harry sat with his teammates, looking just as wired as she felt.

"Hey, just wanted to wish you good luck," Cassie said with an easy grin. "Though, we both know Slytherin is going to absolutely obliterate you."

Harry smirked. "Oh yeah, thanks. Good luck to you too. Also, we both know Gryffindor is winning today."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Potter."

Before Harry could retort, Ron appeared, looking as though he had just finished talking to the Weasley twins. His face lit up at the sight of her.

"Hey, Cas," he greeted, pulling her into a quick hug.

"Hey, Ronniekins," she teased, knowing full well how much he hated the nickname.

Ron groaned. "Don't. Call. Me. That."

Cassie just laughed. Merlin, she loved annoying him.

The two had been close since childhood—Aurie and Molly were thick as thieves, which meant Cassie had spent a fair amount of time at the Burrow. And whenever she did, she and Ron had naturally fallen into a sibling-like friendship, full of playful jabs and bickering but also unwavering loyalty.

Her grandparents hated it.

A Black—worse, a Gaunt-Black—being friendly with a Weasley? It was disgraceful. An insult to their bloodline. Cassie could still hear her grandfather's voice, cold and biting, warning her that she was wasting time with "blood traitors and fools."

As if she cared.

It wasn't like she listened to them much anyway.

"Anyway, good luck, Cas," Ron said sincerely.